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About Us
Building Community Through Clay
The Clay Pit was founded in 2024 by ceramic artist Soren Aster after recognizing that the cost of the average clay studio often prevented people from exploring ceramics. Inspired by the long tradition of clay bringing people together, Soren set out to create a community-centered studio built on affordability, education, and connection.
Our mission and vision
We envision a future where ceramics is accessible to every member of our community. As The Clay Pit continues to grow, we aim to expand community programming, create sustainable careers for artists, develop mentorship and leadership opportunities, and increase access to ceramics throughout Minneapolis through affordable classes, open studio access, and community partnerships. Our long-term vision is to transition into a nonprofit organization that serves as a permanent community resource, ensuring that high-quality ceramics education and creative opportunities remain accessible for generations to come. We hope The Clay Pit becomes more than a studio. We want it to be a place where artists build careers, neighbors build community, and every person who walks through our doors has the opportunity to begin their journey with clay.
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The Clay Pit exists to make ceramics accessible by reducing the financial barriers that have historically limited who gets to participate. Through sliding-scale pricing, community-supported programming, workshops, open studio access, firing services, and our Pay It Forward program, we create opportunities for people of all ages, backgrounds, and experience levels to engage with clay. Our mission is to ensure that anyone with the desire to create has access to the tools, education, and supportive community needed to begin and continue their journey in ceramics.
